Sample Question Paper - 13

English Language And Literature (184)

Class - X, Session: 2021-22
TERM II
Time allowed : 2 Hours Maximum marks : 40
General Instructions :
1. The Question Paper contains Three Sections-Reading, Writing & Grammar and Literature.
2. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION-A (READING)
1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
(1) I was born in the small but beautiful mountain village of Nakuri near Uttarkashi in Garhwal, with the
gurgling, playful Bhagirathi river flowing nearby. My parents were a hard-working and extremely self
contained couple. Even though our family was poor, barely managing the essentials, my father taught us
how to live and maintain dignity and self-respect–the most treasured family value till today. At the same
time my parents also practised the creed, “Kindness is the essence of all religion.” They were large-hearted,
inviting village folk passing by to have tea at our home, and gave grain to the sadhus and pandits who came
to the house. This characteristic has been ingrained in me so deeply that I am able to reach out to others
and make a difference in their lives – whether it is in my home, in society or at the work place.
(2) I was the third child in the family–girl, boy, girl, girl and boy in that order–and quite a rebel. I developed a
tendency to ask questions and was not satisfied with the customary way of life for a girl-child. When I found
my elder brother, Bachchan, encouraging our youngest brother, Raju, to take up mountaineering I thought,
why not me? I found that my brothers were always getting preferential treatment and all opportunities and
options were open to them. This made me even more determined to not only do what the boys were doing,
but to do it better.
(3) The general thinking of mountain people was that mountaineering as a sport was not for them. They
considered themselves to be born mountaineers as they had to go up and down mountain slopes for their
daily livelihood and even for routine work. On the other hand, as a student, I would look curiously at
foreign backpackers passing by my village and wonder where they were going. I would even invite them to
my house and talk to them to learn more about their travels. The full significance of this came to me later
when I started working. The foreigners took the trouble to come all the way to the Himalayas in order to
educate themselves on social, cultural and scientific aspects of mountaineering, as well as to seek peace in
nature’s gigantic scheme of things.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the six given below:
 (1 × 5 = 5)

(i) From the passage, what can be said about the financial condition of the author’s parents?
(ii) Give an example from the passage that would describe the family as generous.
(iii) What kind of a girl was the author?
(iv) Why do mountain people consider themselves as born mountaineers?
(v) Why did the author invite foreign mountaineers to her house?
(vi) What was the reason the author was motivated to out do the boys?
2. Read the following passage carefully.
(1) One would imagine that at the very sight of the panther, deer, antelopes, and its other preys would just run
for their lives. Nothing of the sort. They all stand their ground and make such a loud noise that the panther
is left with no other choice except to leave quietly. I have seen a tiny chital babe standing in the middle of an
opening in the forest, stamping its feet on the ground and shooing away a tiger. With the white of its erect
tail showing, it kept up its shrill call until the tiger made itself scarce. No tiger in its senses would attempt
to catch such an impertinent brat, just as you would not dream of catching an offending crow cawing away
in your verandah.
(2) While the panther sticks to cover and hugs the edge of the forest, the game animals, on the other hand, like
to assemble right out in open vast grazing grounds. Open spaces which the panther carefully avoids, are
what the game animals deliberately seek.
(3) It is difficult to describe the pandemonium kicked up by various animals when they spot or suspect a panther
around. The chital strikes a shrill note, the kakar emits a deafening bark and the sambar rings a bell. The
peacock on its perch, the jungle fowl on the ground, and the monkey on treetops, all join in the chorus
of condemnation of the panther. They curse the panther in their own inimitable language. The resulting
confusion of sounds is so irritating to the sharp ears of the panther that it is left with no other option except
to go away.
(4) The panther has thus to deal with its ever alert and watchful associates who show no mercy and expect none.
It is a fight between finesse and flight between clever attack and skillful defence.
(5) Contrary to the common belief, the panther never springs upon its prey. It stalks as close to its victim as it
can manage, and then makes the final dash by rushing at it at a lightning speed.
On the basis of your reading of the passage answer ANY FIVE of the given questions. (1 × 5 = 5)
(i) What reaction did the narrator expect from the panther’s prey as soon as they see it?
(ii) What does a tiny chital babe do to scare away a tiger?
(iii) Why do the game animals deliberately seek open fields?
(iv) How does making chaotic noises help animals counter the panther’s attack?
(v) What does the phrase “They all stand their ground” mean in the passage?
(vi) What does the line “the panther never springs upon its prey” mean?

SECTION-B (WRITING AND GRAMMAR)

3. Attempt any one of the given questions. (5)
The given pie chart shows a variety of different electronic appliances used by average middle class families
of old Gurugram. Write an analytical paragraph in 100-120 words elaborating the given information.

Refrigerator

TV
AC

Microwave

Laptop
Washing machine
 OR

You are Neelam from Gurugram, Haryana. Write a letter in 100-120 words to the Dean of Indira Gandhi
National Open University enquiring about the Mass Communication courses.

4. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Identify the error and write
its correction against the correct blank number. Remember to underline the correction. The first has
been done for you. (1 × 3 = 3)
Error Correction
It is well know that in winter e.g., know known
birds fly in sunny South (a) _____
or in spring, they fly back (b) _____
North to their breed grounds. (c) _____

5. Read the conversation between travel agent and Satish and complete the passage that follows :
 (1 × 2 = 2)
Travel agent : Are you planning on going on any trips soon?
Satish : Yes, we are planning to go to Paris.
The travel agent enquired/questioned Satish if (a) _____________. Satish responded/answered that
(b) _____________ .

SECTION-C (LITERATURE)
6. Answer ANY SIX of the following in about 30-40 words. (2 × 6 = 12)
(i) Why did Sulekha start stammering?
(ii) How did Richard’s mother help him?
(iii) Why did prince Siddhartha leave the palace and became a beggar?
(iv) Why did Matilda not like to visit her rich friends?
(v) How did Lutkins’ mother receive the lawyer?
(vi) What was a source of unending joy for Valli?
(vii) How did Belinda’s pets other than Custard face the pirate?

7. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 120-150 words each.  (4 × 2 = 8)

(i) When the lawyer reached New Mullion, did ‘Bill’ know that he was looking for Lutkins? When do you think
Bill came up with his plan for fooling the lawyer?
(ii) Give a character sketch of Natalya Stepanovna.
(iii) School education turned Bholi from a ‘dumb cow’ into a bold girl. How did she save her father from a huge
expense and become his support in his old age?
 Solution
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - 184
Class 10 - English Language And Literature
1. (i) It can be inferred that the financial condition preferences in case of electronic appliances based on
of the author’s parents is poor. their usability.
(ii) The passage states that the family invited the OR
village folk passing by to have tea at their home, and
H.No. 453, Sector 15
gave grain to the sadhus and pandits who came to
Gurugram
their house. This is a good example of their generosity.
Haryana-122001
(iii) The author was a rebellious and determined girl
17th December, 20XX
with a curious mind.
The Dean
(iv) The mountain people consider themselves as born
Indira Gandhi National Open University
mountaineers because they have to go up and down
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110030
the mountains for various reasons.
Subject : Courses in Mass Communication
(v) The author invited foreign mountaineers to her
Dear Sir/Ma’am
house because she was curious about their travels.
Through your advertisement in the Indian Express,
(vi) The author was motivated to out do the boys
I have come to know that your university offers
because the author realised her brothers and other
courses in Mass Communication.
boys received preferential treatment.
I have completed my graduation in English with 55%
2. (i) The narrator expected them to instantly run and am interested in joining the Masters Programme
for their lives. in Mass Communication. I would like to know the
(ii) A tiny chital babe can scare away a tiger by eligibility criteria for the same and also request you
stamping its feet on the ground. to send me the details regarding fees, hostel facilities
(iii) The act of assembling together in open fields and other relevant information.
gives animals the advantage against attacks. A self-addressed envelope is being enclosed
(iv) The chaotic noises made by the animals irate herewith. Looking forward to an early response.
panther’s sensitive ears and drives it away. Yours faithfully
(v) It means that the animals refuse to yield and brace Neelam
themselves for any opposition attack.
(vi) The line means the panther never attacks its prey 4. Error Correction
impulsively. (a) in to
3. The given pie chart shows the type of various (b) or and
electronic appliances used by average middle class (c) breed breeding
families in old Gurugram.
The given data shows that an average middle class 5. (a) he was planning on going on any trips soon
family in old Gurugram preferred to have a TV the (b) he was planning to go to Paris.
most. Second preference happened to be refrigerator. 6. (i) Sulekha was a baby when she fell down from a
AC, washing machine and laptop fell into almost same cot. Her brain was damaged. She could not speak till
category. And the least preferred appliance is AC. the age of five years. She was mentally slow and lacked
The pie chart shows comparison in the product confidence. That is why she started stammering.
preferred and it is mainly due to their usage and (ii) Richard’s mother played an important role in
utility based on the usefulness in lessening the human making him a scientist. She was a great source of
workload. Laptop stands equal to washing machine encouragement to him. She bought him scientific
and AC as it has become a necessary aid in children equipment, camera, etc. She took him on trips and
education. prepared various learning activities for him to do. This
To conclude the given chart, it clearly shows TV as the helped him learn a lot. It was she who bought Richard
most preferred choice and AC as the least preferred the book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’, which opened
one. This has helped us in understanding the consumer the world of science for him.
(iii) Before he had come across the sick man, the aged man from the city, wearing fancy clothes, looking for
man, the funeral procession and the monk begging him, Lutkins easily guessed that the man was a lawyer
for alms, during his hunting expedition, Prince who had come to serve summons on him. Lutkins had
Siddhartha Gautama lived a life of comfort, unaware been avoiding receiving the summons repeatedly as
of the sufferings of the world. After he chanced he did not want to appear in front of the judge as a
upon those sufferings, Siddhartha Gautama left his witness. Moreover, the young lawyer seemed an easy
comfortable life at the palace and wandered off into target for befooling. Therefore, Lutkins planned to
the world seeking enlightenment, concerning the fool the lawyer at the first chance he got.
sorrows he had witnessed. (iii) Owing to Bholi’s handicaps and pock marked
(iv) Matilda had inferiority complex. Whenever body, nobody was willing to marry Bholi. Finally
she visited her rich friend she felt dejected and when Bishamber Nath, a well-to-do grocer from
disappointed because of her poverty. She used to another village agreed to marry Bholi, sans dowry,
compare her lodgings to that of her friend’s. She did her parents’ happiness knew no bounds. Bishamber
not have attractive dress and jewellery to adorn herself Nath was about forty-five to fifty years of age, limped
with. That is why, she did not like to visit her rich and had grown-up children from his first marriage.
friends. Being from another village, he was unaware of Bholi’s
(v) Lutkins’ mother was not ready to tell them anything condition. Therefore, when he saw Bholi’s face for
about Lutkins’. She tried to avoid their enquiry. When the first time near the sacred fire, Bishamber Nath
she came to know about the purpose of the narrator, staggered. He demanded a dowry of five thousand
she got furious. She went to the kitchen and came out rupees from Bholi’s father and threatened to leave
with an iron rod. She marched towards them with a without marrying her. Ramlal wept and requested
threat. They had to retreat from there. Bishamber Nath to take two thousand rupees instead
(vii) All the other animals except the dragon ran of five and marry Bholi as their family honour was
away after seeing the fierce pirate. They all displayed at stake. In spite of many pleadings, Bishamber Nath
cowardice for which they used to blame the dragon. did not agree. Hence, a helpless Ramlal had to pay the
All their false claims of bravery vanished away on former the hefty sum of money as dowry. However,
facing the adverse situation only the dragon faced the Bholi, whom education had made a smart, courageous
pirate fearlessly and saved everybody. and confident girl, asked her father to take back the
7. (i) No, ‘Bill’ did not know that the lawyer was money from Bishamber Nath as she no longer wished
looking for Lutkins at first. He came to know about it to have such a ‘greedy and contemptible coward’ as
when the lawyer stated his purpose of coming to New her husband. Hearing Bholi speak her mind, sent
Mullion i.e., he wanted to find Oliver Lutkins. Lutkins Bishamber Nath and his wedding party packing.
was a clever man and an expert deceiver. He came up School education turned Bholi from a ‘dumb cow’ into
with the plan for fooling the lawyer as soon as the latter a bold girl. This transformation is evident from the
said that he was looking for Lutkins. Seeing the young way she saved her father from a huge expense.